Wine goblet

ABSTRACT

A wine goblet comprising:
         a. a bowl part having a generally round top rim of circumference C, a closed bottom, circular walls between said top rim and closed bottom, and height H from said closed bottom to said rim,   b. a stem part extending downward from said closed bottom of said bowl part, and   c. a base fixed to the bottom of said stem,
 
said bowl part having its circular top rim interrupted by a notch in said rim that extends downward toward said base, where the height of said notch is less than half of the height of the bowl, and the width of said notch at said rim is less than half the circumference of said rim, said notch being defined by edges of said bowl which begin at said rim and extend downward and converge at the bottom of said notch.

A. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of wine goblets, and particularly wine goblets from which one first sniffs and subsequently drinks the wine or other liquor.

B. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The practice of sniffing wine to determine, evaluate and/or appreciate its fragrance, aroma, spirit is conducted from time to time by both casual and serious drinkers and by professionals who include vintners, wine merchants, restaurant sommeliers and connoisseurs. Styles of sniffing wine vary widely, but a well recognized style is to fill the goblet to about one third of the height of the bowl of the goblet, then to swirl the wine a bit and finally to place one's nose at the top edge of the goblet and sniff. Most goblets are round and quite often these goblets taper or converge at the top to have top opening that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bowl. The wine sniffing custom that precedes the actual drinking is done with certain anticipation or hope that the experience will be pleasing, and preferably exciting and memorable.

In the sniffing procedure one cannot practically swirl a full or even half full goblet without spilling the wine, and thus the approximately one third filling or less is commonly selected.

From a more scientific point of view, a one third versus two thirds quantity can interact with more inner wall surfaces of the goblet and interact with more air immediately above the exposed top surface of the wine, to produce whatever fragrance that wine is capable of.

While such wine sniffing has been practiced for centuries, it has recently been realized that a more effective result could be achieved if one's nose could get closer to the zone immediately above the top surface of the wine where the fragrance is more concentrated, before that fragrance-laden air drifts upward and is diluted in the air in the top region of the goblet and in the room air above the goblet. However, because the swirling wine is in the bottom one third of the goblet and the nose is at the top edge of the goblet, the most intense or effective sniffing is not possible. The present invention addresses this inherent limitation with traditional wine goblets.

A second aspect of the present invention concerns drinking the wine down to the last drops in the goblet. With a basic or traditional wine goblet it has also long been known and obvious that to “drink the last drops,” one cannot simply tilt the goblet up, but one must tilt the head and/or neck backward. When attempting to drink the last drops, the goblet is tilted so that the stem and base rise, the goblet bowl moves from a vertical toward horizontal position, and the top rim remote edge will encounter the bridge of the nose. The drinker then either tilts his or her head and neck rearward or stops drinking. Because of the shape of a traditional wine goblet, one simply cannot empty the glass while the head and neck are in a normal upright posture.

As described above, traditional wine goblets do not allow for optimum sniffing or for comfortably drinking the last drops or even for drinking the last approximately twenty percent of the wine.

Prior art publication in the field of drinking cups or devices disclose a number of devices that are different from traditional drinking glasses, cups or goblets, as described below.

Published applications No. US 2004/0140315 A1 discloses a device proposed for tasting and drinking champagne which is attached to the open top end of a champagne bottle. This device has an inclined top rim with a roof or wall 3 partially covering the top opening and defining air inlet 11 and mouth opening 12.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,096 discloses a bottle neck 2 modified with a curved notch defined by lower front wall 10 to allow for closure with plug 6 and easier opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,438 discloses a drinking vessel with an extended top lip or spout to allow drinking by a user in a partially or fully reclined position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,928 discloses special cups for persons suffering from dysphagia who need to be able to drink and swallow without tilting the head backward. One such cup has an elliptical top opening wherein the top rim is wide and/or extends as a spout to allow drinking without the usual tilting of the head. This disclosure refers also to a nose cup with a cut-out in the rim to accommodate the person's nasal bridge when the cup is tilted. Here the cut-out is positioned on the side of the cup opposite the side where the person's lips are placed, which allows the cup to be tilted farther than a traditional cup without requiring the person to tilt his/her neck. These cups are medical devices for persons with severe swallowing conditions of dysphagia, each designed with a special top shape and a traditional flat bottom to rest on a table.

C. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE NEW INVENTION

The new wine goblet has a notched area in one portion of the top rim, the notch extending downward about one third of the height of the goblet. The notch is defined by a pair of downward curved edges that also follow the circumferential curve of the round bowl of the goblet. An alternative notch may have relatively straight edges that define a V-shape in elevation view, while these edges still follow the circumferential curve of the round bowl of the goblet. The exact width and depth of each notch may vary, but the parameters are chosen such that a person's nose can fit into the notched area and thereby get closer to the wine. The depth of the notch is not so great that swirling wine will easily spill out. Also, the depth of the notch should not be too great or else the wine poured into the goblet will quickly reach the bottom of the notch and spill out. Since it is common to fill a goblet about half and not more than two thirds height, a notch that extends down about one third will not interfere with the amount of wine usually poured for drinking, and will allow the nose to get considerably close to the swirled wine for sniffing.

The above-described notch has a second separate and totally different function. After the sniffing, the goblet is rotated about its central vertical axis until the notched portion is remote from the drinker's lips and the opposite unnotched rim area is situated near and adjacent the drinker's lips. At this time he or she can drink the wine in a normal way. While the goblet's unnotched portion remains in contact with the drinker's lips, the goblet is tilted from inclined toward horizontal, and the notched portion rises to an elevated location which approaches the bridge of the nose of the drinker. When tilting an ordinary unnotched goblet toward horizontal position the remote edge of the rim would approach, engage and be stopped by the bridge of the person's nose. When tilting the new notched goblet the remote notched edge would constitute a recess allowing the goblet to be tilted an additional approximately 10-40 degrees so that the person could drink the last drops without having to tip his or her neck backward.

In summary, the new invention is a wine goblet comprising:

-   -   a. a bowl part having a generally round top rim of circumference         C, a closed bottom, circular walls between said top rim and         closed bottom, and height H from said closed bottom to said rim,     -   b. a stem part extending downward from said closed bottom of         said bowl part, and     -   c. a base fixed to the bottom of said stem,

said bowl part having its circular top rim interrupted by a notch in said rim that extends downward toward said base, where the height of said notch is less than half of the height of the bowl, and the width of said notch at said rim is less than half the circumference of said rim, said notch being defined by edges of said bowl which begin at said rim and extend downward and converge at the bottom of said notch.

The new invention is furthermore a method of sniffing and drinking comprising the steps:

-   -   a. providing a wine goblet according to the description in the         previous paragraph,     -   b. pouring a quantity of wine into the lower portion of said         goblet,     -   c. holding said goblet generally upright with said notch         adjacent said nose, with said nose extending into said notch and         nostril openings of said nose facing downward into said goblet,         and     -   d. sniffing said wine from said goblet edge of the rim.

These and other aspects of the invention are described in more detail in the detailed description of the invention in the claims that follow.

D. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a first embodiment of my new notched let,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a prior art traditional wine goblet of as used in position for sniffing wine,

FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of the new goblet of FIG. 1 shown as used for FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the prior art of a traditional goblet of FIG. 2 n tilted position for normal drinking,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the prior art goblet of FIG. 3 shown with the head and neck tipped rearward,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the new goblet of FIGS. 1 and 2A used in tilted for drinking,

FIG. 5A is a side elevation view of the new goblet of FIGS. 1, 2A and 5 shown with et tipped upward for the last portion of the wine without tipping the head rearward,

FIG. 6 is a top and partially sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5A,

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of my new notched let, and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the wine goblet of FIG. 7.

E. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For convenience and clarity in describing these embodiments, similar elements or components appearing in different figures will have the same reference numbers.

The new wine goblet 20 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 5, 5A, and 7. The new wine goblet 20 includes base 22, stem 24, and bowl 26 having height H defining the bottom, middle and top parts 26A, 26B, and 26C, and having rim 28 with circumference C.

As seen in FIG. 1, the wine 12 occupies the bottom section 26A of bowl 26 of goblet 20. The novel feature of this wine goblet invention is notch 30 that extends about ⅓ of height H downward from rim 30, the notch having maximum width of about ¼ of circumference C. Notch 30 is defined as curved side edges 30A and 30B; however, an alternate embodiment 40 seen in FIG. 7 has notch 42 defined by generally straight side edges 42A and 42B, except that these edges curve in the circumferential direction. In still further embodiments the height and/or width of the notch may vary to extend more or less in the height and width directions. Also, the notch shape may vary, being v-shaped as seen in FIG. 7 or rectangular or other shape.

Sniffing and drinking with a conventional wine goblet is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. 2 shows goblet 10 having a bowl 11 of height H with wine 12 in the lower ⅓ of bowl 11 and being tipped slightly for sniffing. As illustrated, the top surface 14 of the wine 12 is about ⅔ H away from the nose 16 of the person sniffing. The new invention, described below, allows a person's nose to get substantially closer to the wine being sniffed.

FIG. 3 shows a person drinking the last ⅓ with a conventional prior art goblet of wine, and FIG. 4 shows this person with his head tipped backward in order to drink all the remaining wine and thus to empty the goblet. The new invention, as described below, allows a person to drink the last drop without having to tip his head backward.

As noted above, the new wine goblet allows for two previously not-possible functions, namely (a) getting one's nose much closer to the wine in sniffing mode, and (b) in drinking mode, drinking the final one third of the wine without having to bend one's head and neck backward.

FIG. 2A illustrates the new wine goblet 20 as used in sniffing mode, where goblet 20 has wine 11 occupying the lower approximately ⅓ H of the goblet which is slightly tipped (or not), with the person's nose 16 positioned in notch 32 with the opening of his nostrils distance D or about ⅓ of the height H away from the top surface of wine 11.

As seen, the bottom of the nose 16 does not reach the bottom of notch 30 because the notch converges at its lower end to a point 33 whereas the nose has width W; however, the nose can get to the lower portion of the notch to be relatively close to the top surface of the wine 12 for optimal sniffing, and thus, far closer to the wine surface than with a conventional wine goblet.

FIGS. 5, 5A, and 6 illustrate the new wine goblet 20 as used in drinking mode and particularly for drinking the last one-third of the wine. FIG. 5 shows the goblet rotated about its central vertical axis X-X so that notch 30 is away from the lips, as opposed to the notch being adjacent the lips in the above-described sniffing mode. With the goblet in this orientation drinking begins normally, with the lips on the standard, unnotched portion 31 of rim 28 of the goblet, and with opposite side notch 30 adjacent the bridge of the nose.

As the wine is consumed, the goblet is tilted upward to the position shown in FIG. 5A where even the last drops can be drunk without need to tip or bend one's head and neck rearward as is required with a conventional wine goblet seen in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6, with its top view partially in section, further illustrates the portion of the person's nose 16 in notch 30.

FIG. 7 illustrates the second embodiment 40 of the new wine goblet invention where notch 42 is formed in rim 44 by side edges 42A and 42B. While these side edges of notch 42 appear generally straight in FIG. 7, they actually follow the circumferential curve of rim 44 as seen in FIG. 8A.

The new goblets illustrated herein are made of glass or plastic or ceramic materials by conventional manufacturing means well known in the art.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with several embodiments, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A wine goblet comprising: a. a bowl part having a generally round top rim of circumference C, a closed bottom, circular walls between said top rim and closed bottom, and height H from said closed bottom to said rim, b. a stem part extending downward from said closed bottom of said bowl part, and c. a base fixed to the bottom of said stem, said bowl part having its circular top rim interrupted by a notch in said rim that extends downward toward said base, where the height of said notch is less than half of the height of the bowl, and the width of said notch at said rim is less than half the circumference of said rim, said notch being defined by edges of said bowl which begin at said rim and extend downward and converge at the bottom of said notch.
 2. A wine goblet according to claim 1, wherein said notch has height of about ⅓ H, and width of said notch at said rim is about ¼-⅓ C.
 3. A wine goblet according to claim 1, wherein each of said notch side edges defines a smooth curve of said bowl wall, extending from said top rim downward.
 4. A wine goblet according to claim 1, wherein each of said notch side edges as seen in side elevation view defines a generally a V-shape converging from said top rim to the bottom of said notch.
 5. A wine goblet according to claim 2, wherein said curved edge of said notch describes an arc of ¼ C.
 6. A wine goblet according to claim 1, comprising glass.
 7. A wine goblet according to claim 1, comprising plastic.
 8. A wine goblet according to claim 1, wherein both stand and base comprise contiguous elements made of glass.
 9. A wine goblet comprising: a. a bowl part having a generally round top rim of circumference C, a closed bottom, circular walls between said top rim and closed bottom, and height H from said closed bottom to said rim, b. a base fixed to the bottom of said stem, said bowl part having its circular top rim interrupted by a notch in said rim that extends downward toward said base, where the height of said notch is less than half of the height of the bowl, and the width of said notch at said rim is less than half the circumference of said rim, said notch being defined by edges of said bowl which begin at said rim and extend downward and converge at the bottom of said notch.
 10. A method of sniffing wine from a goblet, comprising the steps: a. providing a wine goblet according to claim 1, b. pouring a quantity of wine into the lower portion of said goblet, c. holding said goblet generally upright with said notch adjacent said nose, with said nose extending into said notch and nostril openings of said nose facing downward into said goblet, d. sniffing said wine from said goblet edge of the rim.
 11. Method according to claim 10, comprising the further step of rotating said goblet about its central vertical axis until the rim opposite said notch is adjacent the person's lips and drinking said wine by tipping said goblet until said notch overlies and fits about the top edge of said nose. 